Rock Her (Crimson Romance) (15 page)

Moments later, he rolled off, shoulders shaking with repressed mirth. She turned her puzzled, sleepy, still rapturous eyes on him.

“Alec?”

He pulled her into his arms, but she pulled herself up on an elbow to look into his laughing countenance.

“What’s funny? That I told you I didn’t like it? ’Cause that is funny, in retrospect,” she admitted, smiling self-consciously.

“No, that’s not it, but I think I’ll remember the expression on your face afterward for the rest of my life.” His lips stroked hers, gently. “What’s funny is my complete lack of control. Sex is supposed to be leisurely you know, not a mad dash for the finish, and yet every time I get inside you, all my intentions of prolonging it get completely overwhelmed. That’s never happened to me before, at least not since I was a teenager.”

“Works for me.” She shrugged. “Obviously.” Her hand stroked down his chest, over his hip, eliciting a surprising response. He looked at her hand, hovering near his body, brows lifted.

“No condom,” she breathed.

“Well. There’s that. That could be part of the problem. Skin against skin with you was indescribable.” He tugged her hand to his lips and put a hot open-mouthed kiss in the center of her palm. His expression held a tenderness that made her blush and look away.

Paradise. That’s what this place was. Kate floated on the raft in Alec’s pool in the warm California sun. She briefly considered his offer to use one of his two vehicles to venture downtown, maybe take in a movie or window shop, but the idea of taking out his sports car or Range Rover made her nervous. It wasn’t that driving a stick shift was a problem, but the sports car had funky paddle shifters and she had no earthly idea how to use them. Trailing her foot in the warm water, she stretched.

Alec wasn’t around much, at least not during work hours, but they connected at night. That should be enough, right? So what if he had gotten too busy to do anything with her during the day. He was stressed about his job; that much was obvious. Tonight they were going to a party, and tomorrow he was going to take her home. If only she could shake the feeling that something was wrong. There was a distance between them here in Los Angeles that hadn’t been there before, and she didn’t know how to breach it. It wasn’t anything she could put her finger on. Maybe she was just being paranoid because her feelings for him were so overwhelming? It was way too early to know if she was in love with him. Wasn’t it?

The party was hours away. She should get out of the pool and take Zack for a run, but she was feeling too lazy.

Excited barks from the house had her paddling her raft to the steps. She hopped out and padded through the house in her bikini, expecting to see Alec home early.

In the hallway greeting Zack was someone she had only seen onstage in stadiums and in the pages of magazines. He was taller and more vibrant in real life. Slightly star-struck, she attempted nonchalance.

“Well, hello there!” he greeted heartily, his gaze appreciative as it swept slowly up and down her body. His deep drawling voice was oddly familiar. A big fan of his band Spade, she had most of their songs on her playlist.

“Asher Lowe.” So here was Alec’s good friend. In the flesh. It dawned on her that she was only wearing a bikini and her smile dimmed, as she became shy and self-conscious.

“And you are?”

“Kate Gibson.” She reached out to shake his hand only to have her hand enveloped in both of his as he tugged her in closer.

“Actress?” He stroked one large palm over her shoulder and down her bare back, where it came to rest on the curve of her hip, his eyes glued to her breasts.

Belatedly, Kate realized that while she knew who he was, he had no idea who she was. Well, what was she to Alec, anyway? His girlfriend? A hookup? Before they came to LA, she would’ve said they were edging toward the former. Now? Who knew? Whatever she was, his friend was hitting on her.

She squirmed away, uncomfortable and irritated. Apparently he was a good enough friend to have a key to Alec’s house, but not to know about her? She folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin. He finally met her furious gaze and backed off, hands up.

“Alec wouldn’t mind.” He shrugged broad shoulders.

She recoiled. “I do,” she returned coldly.
Ick
.

He laughed, not offended, and looked around idly. “Where is the man?”

“Work,” she replied stiffly, maintaining her distance.

His expression registered mild surprise. “And you’re here because?”

“Because he invited me.” Had he even knocked? Maybe she hadn’t heard it because she had been in the pool.

“Ah.” He was still obviously puzzled. “From?”

“From Cielito. Not that it’s any of your business.” She didn’t care if he was good friends with Alec. He was an irritating, lecherous jerk.

He stared down at her, frowning.

“Why don’t you come back later?” She put one hand on a bathing-suit-clad hip and gestured toward the door authoritatively with the other.

He grinned at her diminutive form appreciatively. “Kicking me out? I don’t think so. Got coffee?” Without waiting for an answer, he left her in the entryway, headed toward the kitchen.

Grumbling under her breath about arrogant jerks, she opened the hallway closet and rifled through jackets and coats until she found Alec’s hooded sweatshirts and pulled one on. It was warm and almost reached her knees. Once covered adequately, she followed him to the kitchen and jumped up on a stool. He held out the carafe.

“No thanks.”

“So, Kate Gibson from Cielito — ” He stopped abruptly as her cell on the island counter both vibrated and rang simultaneously. Alec’s ringtone, Asher’s song.

He froze, then his eyes crinkled, amused. He winked at her and continued, “ — with excellent taste in music.”

She picked up the phone, swiveling the stool, turning her back on Asher. “Alec,” she greeted.

“Hey darlin’.”

“Are you calling to cancel our lunch?” She recognized his apologetic tone and gritted her teeth. “Alec, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry. Honest to God, work this week has sucked.”

She sighed.

“I’ll take you to lunch,” Asher put in, his deep voice a low growl.

She shushed him.

“Who was that?” Alec’s tone went from distracted to sharp and suspicious.

“Asher Lowe. He let himself in,” she stage whispered and Asher laughed.

“Put him on,” Alec’s reply was terse and unfriendly.

She shrugged, handed Asher her phone and took the opportunity to go change. She put on underwear and a sundress, stepped into her cowboy boots, pulled her hair into a messy knot and re-applied sunscreen.

When she returned Asher was kicking back on Alec’s patio under an umbrella at the glass topped table, sunglasses on, posture relaxed.

“Seems I’m taking you to lunch,” he said, smiling widely. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to make a pass.” Her posture became less defensive. “I want to spend some time with the woman who has my buddy in a tizzy.”

A startled laugh escaped her. “A tizzy? Hardly,” she replied honestly. “He’s been blowing me off since we arrived.”

He flipped his hand. “That’s Alec. Work, work, work. Consider yourself lucky if you get any time with him. I do. Besides,” he looked at her from over the rims of his sunglasses, “I got the hands off lecture from Alec. First time ever. So naturally my curiosity is … aroused.” The lecherous grin was back, but it seemed more like a reflex. His eyes were full of intelligence and calculation, not lust. She decided to relax. If he and Alec were friends of such long standing, he wouldn’t pursue her.

“I told him I was taking you out since he was so busy.” This grin was pure wickedness and hinted at some inside joke. She shrugged inwardly. It would be nice to go somewhere. He looked her up and down.

“Ready?”

“Yep.”

Pulling the front door closed behind her, he locked it.

She froze on the walkway, staring at the car in the driveway. They were going to go in
that?

“Great, isn’t it?” He bobbed his head, indicating she should get in.

“What is it?” This was a car for a superhero. It was silver, low slung and sexy. Gorgeous. It also seemed more appropriate for a racetrack, not the street. She said as much and Asher bestowed a dazzling smile on her, a genuine smile, not his half-lecherous grin.

“It’s a Bugatti Veyron. Wait till you get in, if you think the outside is great.”

He was clearly having fun on the winding road down the mountain. Unfortunately, she couldn’t seem to relax her death grip on her purse.

He reached over and patted her hand reassuringly, but slowed down.

An hour later, Asher paid the restaurant bill over her protests. From the happy, astonished expression on the waiter’s face, he had left a generous tip.

By the time he got the car back from the valet after lunch at the exclusive West Hollywood restaurant, she could see why Alec liked him. He didn’t take himself too seriously and was easy to talk to. He was not, however, at all subtle about trying to elicit information about her relationship with Alec. Since she didn’t know the status of their relationship, he was out of luck.

“What now?” he asked.

“Alec said he’d be home around four-thirty. He wants to go to a party tonight.” She checked her watch; it was after one.

“Plenty of time. What should we do?” He rubbed his hands together. “I have a free afternoon.”

She shrugged. “What do you suggest?”

“Shopping?”

She shook her head. No money for that. Not with Emma’s tuition sucking up the rest of the life insurance money. It was becoming more and more difficult to cover her and Emma’s living expenses on her salary.

“Touristy stuff? Griffith observatory?”

“I was here during the summer with my sister. We spent the weekend doing Grumman’s, Griffith Park, even Universal Studios.” She smiled at the memory.

His eyes lit up. “Cirque de Soleil is in town, you ever see them?”

“No, but I’ve always wanted to,” she replied, excited.

“I’ll bet I could get us in to where they’re practicing, if you want to go?”

“I’d love to!” she squealed, unable to contain her excitement as he peeled out, merging into Los Angeles traffic. She tightened her grip on her purse and closed her eyes.

• • •

Asher looked over at his passenger. Kate was back to her death grip on the purse. “We’re here.” He re-parked the car, smiling at her. She really didn’t need to be nervous. He was an excellent driver. He held the door for her. Now that he’d had a chance to spend time with her, he was suitably impressed.

He’d known who she was, of course, as soon as he walked into Alec’s house. He made it his business to know what was happening in the lives of the people he cared about. Asher recognized her from news about the rescue and the karaoke bar footage he had been inundated with. She was even more beautiful in person. Radiant. She was also sweet and innocent and young. Quite a departure for his most jaded, commitment-phobic friend. Things were looking up for Alec. Maybe this woman could get Alec back into music where he belonged. He grinned when he remembered her reaction to his inappropriate behavior, but it had been amusing to put her to the test.

He’d seen Cirque a number of times. Growing up in Las Vegas, there were few shows he hadn’t seen. His parents divorced when he was a child, and his billionaire father had been awarded custody. His mother was a hot mess — and that was putting it euphemistically. Though she lived in Los Angeles, he avoided all contact with her. A former actress, now blackballed in Hollywood for her antics, her exploits back in the day could have given today’s starlets and their scandals a run for their money.

The experience of seeing Cirque de Soleil through Kate’s eyes was startling. She was awestruck. That much was obvious. He watched her wiggle to the edge of her seat when the acrobats preformed some thrilling move. She clutched his arm several times, wholly unaware she’d even done it. Her actions were child-like in a way, but there was nothing childish about her.

Asher took his time studying her. He was protective of Alec. There weren’t too many people he was tight with in his industry but Alec was a good friend. He considered himself lucky to have met Sawyer when they were both getting started. Not that it wasn’t a friendship with a few bumps in the road.

He was the product of two individuals with astonishing affluence and exposed to the assorted ills that accompanied fame and financial success from a young age. Raised by a largely absent billionaire father and an indifferent, narcissistic Hollywood icon mother, Asher was unexpectedly grounded. Alec and most of Reeking Bliss went off the deep end with drugs and alcohol just about the time Spade hit mega stardom. Asher had participated in an intervention or two over the years and had enough exposure to addiction in all its forms to realize better than most that he would either lose his friend to drugs and alcohol, or Alec would sober up.

Asher’s vices ran to fast cars and faster women. He was jaded and bored, sure, but that came with the life. He didn’t realize how jaded and bored until he spent time with someone like Kate. Though come to think of it, he didn’t actually know anyone like Kate.

When the practice ended, she turned to him, beautiful green eyes shining, joy transparent on her animated face. They stood and she gave him a hug and thanked him profusely.

“That was so amazing!”

“Do you want to go backstage and meet some of the performers?” he asked.

She hung back, shyly. “Oh, no. I mean, no, really. That’s okay.”

“They’d be just as happy to meet me.”

She burst out laughing.

He grinned back at her. “I don’t just sound like an arrogant ass. I am an arrogant ass.”

She nodded. “Maybe. But at least you are self-aware? And besides, I’m sure you need a very healthy ego to be a rock star.”

“Now there’s positive spin. I should hire you to do my promotion.”

“Sounds like you handle that fine all by yourself.”

He took her hand, marveling at how small it felt in his large palm and led her backstage, then excused himself to talk to security.